World Music CD Reviews North American

This L.A.-based band’s name is memorable, the title is certainly enticing, and they create some wicked reggae rhythms. But don’t buy this if you like serious lyrics. For example, these lines from “The Mummy”: “Now, when I get up on the mic, I smoke what I like. And when I get down off the mic, I still smoke what I like. I even smoke up in Mesopotamia. Smoke a little spliff of sinsemilla. ’Cause it goes straight, straight, straight to my head [repeat]. I go smoke until I get cerebral, smoke it with Evel Knievel.” On the plus side are some wild, Adrian Sherwood-style dub effects, plus electrifying guitar on tracks like “Money Money.” Guest vocalists include Ranking Joe and Mikey Dread (who famously worked with the Clash). However, Future Pigeon really should stick to instrumental dub, or get a new songwriter, maybe someone like Beth Orton (Google that reference).